Piling extender

ABSTRACT

A method and system for extending a vertical structural member supporting a structure, where a sleeve is coupled to the vertical structural member such that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeve is about the structural member, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap to attach the system to the structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/823,918, filed Aug. 11, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/175,748, filed Feb. 7, 2014, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/763,677, filed Feb. 12,2013, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to systems and methods forextending and reinforcing vertical structural members.

BACKGROUND

Vertical structural members, often called pilings, can be as any column,pile, bollard, post, buttress, strut, pillar, pole or similar structurethat serves as a structural support to elevate a structure, such as abuilding, dock, bridge, etc. For example, vertical members may be, butare not limited to be, pilings under homes, structures, bridges, docks,piers, bulk heads, water or land based platforms, utility poles, orother similar structures. Over time, vertical structural members can bedamaged due to wear and tear from natural and/or man-made forces, suchas wave action, acid rain, ultraviolet radiation, vibrations fromtraffic, corrosion, pest/insect damage, etc. Further, verticalstructural members can sustain serious damage due to events that resultin strong forces being exerted on the vertical structural member, suchas a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, or an impact from a vehicle, aboat, or an airplane. Vertical structural members that are alreadyinstalled may be determined to have insufficient length to providesupport at a safe height for the structure being supported. For example,due to rising water levels, a length of vertical structural support asdesigned and built may no longer be sufficient for a structure.

Current solutions for extending the height of vertical structuralmembers and/or for the repair of damaged portions of vertical structuralmembers may not provide sufficient structural stability or may beprohibitively expensive or difficult to execute. Splicing of pilings toextend or repair a piling, where an existing piling and a new piling arenotched with matching notches and then fastened together, is generallynot an acceptable practice under most building codes, because the splicedoes not adequately transmit moment loading from the new section ofpiling to the existing section. Additionally, the connection exposesmore surface area of the piling to the atmosphere, which can increasethe risk of dry rot and insect damage.

Further, placing of concrete, whether poured or block type construction,on top of the piling to extend the height of the piling or replace adamaged section of piling generally does not provide adequate momentloading as the tensile force on the concrete could exceed that availableto the concrete. If steel reinforcement is added to the concrete, theadditional concrete required to fully encapsulate the steelreinforcement would create significant additional loading on the piling,reducing the available loading capacity of the piling. Further, jointsresulting from block construction can be exposed to weathering, whichcan create a long term maintenance concern.

Additionally, using helical piling drilling to extend or repair pilingscan be costly. Also, while structures can be raised and moved away fromthe current location such that new pilings can be installed, this optionis not available on sites with limited space to store the structure andcan be expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system forextending a vertical structural member supporting a structure. Thesystem includes a sleeve to couple to the vertical structural membersuch that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of thesleeve is about the structural member, a cap coupled to a second end ofthe sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment devicecoupled to the cap, the structure attachment device to attach the systemto the structure.

The system can include a fill material, wherein the sleeve is about thefill material. The fill material can be a flowable fill material.

The system can include a cap spacer, wherein the sleeve is coupled tothe cap via the cap spacer. The system can include a sleeve spacer,wherein the sleeve is coupled to the sleeve spacer to accommodatevariation in a perimeter of the vertical structural member.

The structure attachment device can include a U-bolt. A horizontalportion of the U-bolt can be between the cap and the vertical structuralmember, and a first vertical portion and a second vertical portion ofthe U-bolt can extend through openings in the cap to couple to a joistof the structure via a bracket.

The sleeve can be coupled to the vertical structural member via achemical bonding agent and/or via a mechanical fastener.

The sleeve can include a first sleeve and a second sleeve, the firstsleeve to couple to a first portion of a perimeter of the verticalstructural member and the second sleeve to couple to a second portion ofthe perimeter opposite the first portion of the perimeter.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method ofextending a vertical structural member supporting a structure. Themethod can include coupling a sleeve to the vertical structural member,wherein a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeveis about the vertical structural member, coupling a cap to a second endof the sleeve opposite the first end, and coupling a structureattachment device to the cap, wherein the structure attachment device isto attach to the structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, and will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to likeparts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative exploded view of a system for extending avertical structural member in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative assembled view of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative cross-sectional view of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative assembled view of the system of FIG. 1 withouta spacer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative exploded view of attachment of the system ofFIG. 1 to a structure.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative assembled view of attachment of the system ofFIG. 1 to a structure.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative assembled view of a system for extending avertical structural member in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative assembled view of attachment of the system ofFIG. 7 to a structure.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of a sleeve in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of a sleeve spacer in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of a cap spacer in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative view of a cap in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an illustrative view of a structure attachment device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method of extending a vertical structural memberin accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth. It will beapparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In some instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form,rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the presentinvention.

In implementations, a method and system are provided for extendingand/or repairing vertical structural members, such as pilings. A modularsystem including a sleeve, a cap, and a structure attachment device,according to embodiments, provides flexibility to accommodate irregularshapes and dimensions of vertical structural members, which can beinherent to wooden pilings. In an embodiment, sleeve spacers can be usedto vary the size of the sleeve, and glues and/or resins can be used tofill voids and/or irregularities in the vertical structural member, suchthat the system is easily adaptable and installable by a user, such asan installation contractor. The use of the sleeve spacer and glue/resinsystem can further provide the ability to correct vertical alignmentissues which can also be problematic with a driven pile. In an example,alignment can be corrected by up to about 6 degrees.

There are many circumstances, whether from legal mandate or simplystructural protection, which require structures to be raised to a heightabove their existing height. The system described herein allows astructure (e.g., a house, dock or other large building) to be raisedwithout the need to replace the existing pilings. The piling extenderscan be provided in a variety of diameters to accommodate different sizepilings (e.g., from about 4 inches to about 50 inches) and differentlengths (e.g., from about 12 inches to about 25 feet) to accommodatedifferent heights the structure needs to be raised. The system can bealso be used as to replace or encapsulate damaged portions of the memberor so provide additional structural support to a vertical structuremember.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an exploded view and an assembled view, respectively,of a system for extending (and/or repairing) a vertical structuralmember 101 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.One or more sleeves 102 can be positioned about the vertical structuralmember 101. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, two sleeves 102 can bepositioned about the vertical structural member 101 such that eachsleeve 102 is about a portion of the perimeter of the verticalstructural member 101. The two sleeves 102 can be positioned such that afirst end (or first portion) of the sleeves overlaps a portion (e.g., atop portion) of the vertical structural member 101 and a second end (orportion) of the sleeves does not overlap the vertical structural member101. The sleeves 102 can wrap around the vertical member 101 andextended to the desired height above the vertical structural member 101.

In an embodiment, the sleeves 102 can be wrapped around the verticalstructural member 101 to create a longer vertical structural member tothus raise a structure supported by the vertical structural member to ahigher position. In an embodiment, the sleeves 102 can be wrapped aroundthe vertical structural member 101 to reinforce the vertical structuralmember. Alternately, a damaged portion of the vertical structural membercan be removed and the sleeves can be placed on the remaining portion ofthe vertical structural member at the top and bottom with a new membermatching the dimensions of the existing vertical structural memberinserted in the void area left by the removal of the damaged verticalstructural member.

The sleeves 102 can be constructed of fiberglass, ferrous materials ofany suitable type, nylon, structural plastics, composites, or any othersuitable inorganic material, depending on the environment of intendeduse.

The sleeves 102 can be connected or coupled to the vertical structuremember 101 by chemical bonding agents and/or mechanical fasteners. Forexample, the sleeves 102 can be coupled to the vertical structuralmember 101 by resins or glues, where the resin or glue is applied to aninner surface of the sleeve 102 (e.g., by any suitable applicationmethod, such as injection, painting, spraying, etc.) between the sleeve102 and the vertical structural member 101. Examples of glues and resinsinclude high strength acrylic, epoxy, or urethane bonding systems. Inanother example, the sleeves 102 can be coupled to the verticalstructural member 101 by mechanical fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts,nails, pegs, clamps, etc.) where the mechanical fasteners can extend(e.g., radially) through the sleeve 102 and into the vertical structuralmember 101 and/or the mechanical fasteners can fix the sleeve to itselfor another sleeve 102 such that the sleeve(s) 102 are coupled to thevertical structural member 101 via a friction fit. In an embodiment, thesleeves have holes to allow for fastening to the vertical structuralmember to prevent sliding and provide additional strength.

In an embodiment, the sleeves are fabricated to the desired dimensions.In another embodiment, the sleeves are cut to the desired dimensionsafter fabrication, either prior to attaching to the vertical structuremember or after the sleeve is attached.

In an embodiment, the sleeve 102 has a flange 103 along a verticallength of one or both sides of the sleeve 102. In the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, two sleeve 102 can be fastened together by theirflanges 103 via a chemical bonding agent (e.g., glue and/or resin)and/or a mechanical fastener (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, pegs, clamps,etc.). In another embodiment where one sleeve is used, the sleeve can befastened to itself with the flanges 103 on either side of the sleeve viaa chemical bonding agent (e.g., glue and/or resin) and/or a mechanicalfastener (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, pegs, clamps, etc.).

In an embodiment, sleeve spacers 104 can be utilized with sleeves 102e.g., between flanges 103 when provided, to allow for variation invertical structural member dimension and/or to accommodate largervertical structure members. In the example shown in FIG. 3, verticalstructure member 101A can be a twelve inch piling, and two sleevespacers 104 are utilized with two sleeves 102, where one sleeve spacer104 is positioned between the flanges 103 at one side of the respectivesleeves 102 and another sleeve spacer 104 is positioned between theflanges 103 at the opposite side of the respective sleeves 102.

In FIG. 4, a vertical structure member 101B is a piling with a ten inchdiameter. Here, sleeve spacers 104 are not utilized because verticalstructure member 101B is small enough that two sleeves 102 can bewrapped all the way around the vertical structure member 101B. In thisexample, the flanges 103 of the respective sleeves 102 can be coupleddirectly together using a high strength adhesive such as an acrylic orepoxy system.

In other words, though the sleeves 102 utilized with the twelve inchvertical structure member 101A of FIG. 3 may have the same dimensions asthe sleeves 102 utilized with the ten inch vertical structure member101B of FIG. 4, the spacers 104 allow the larger twelve inch verticalstructure member 101A to fit within the sleeves 102. Because the sleeves102 can accommodate vertical structure members of different diameters,installation can be made easier and production costs of the system canbe reduced. In other examples, only one sleeve spacer is utilized ormore than two sleeve spacers are utilized.

The material of the sleeve spacers 104 may be any suitable material,which may or may not match the sleeve material, depending on theenvironment of intended use, such as fiberglass, ferrous materials ofany suitable type, nylon, structural plastics, composites, or any othersuitable inorganic material. The spacers 104 can be attached to theflanges 103 via a mechanical fastener (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, pegs,clamps, etc.) and/or a chemical bonding agent (e.g., glue and/or resin).

In an embodiment, a space defined by the sleeves 102 can be filled(e.g., with fill material) or not, depending on the loading conditions(e.g., of the structure to be supported by the vertical structuralmember). The fill material can be concrete, whether reinforced or not, aflowable fill material (e.g., structural foam or resin, such as a filledepoxy or urethane system), a section of piling or any other suitablematerial. In an example, the fill material can be a Portland Cement perASTM C150 of any type providing a minimum compressive strength of 1000psi, along with any suitable aggregate and/or reinforcement.

Rather than notching a vertical structural member to connect a structureto the vertical structural member, which can reduce the availablestrength of the vertical structural member by as much as half and exposemore surface area to the environment to increase the risk of damage fromdry rot and insect damage, embodiments of the system can utilize a capto facilitate connection to a structure to maintain the structuralintegrity of the vertical structural member.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cap 107 can be attached to an end of thesleeve(s) 102 opposite the vertical structural member 101, according toan embodiment. For example, the cap 107 can be attached via a mechanicalfastener (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, pegs, clamps, etc.) and/or achemical bonding agent (e.g., glue or resin). The cap 107 may include aportion that extends into a space defined by the sleeve(s) 102. Thematerial of the cap 107 may be of any suitable material, such asfiberglass, ferrous materials of any type, nylon, structural plastics,composites, or other inorganic material, dependent on the environment ofits intended use and loading conditions.

In an embodiment, the cap 107 can protect the vertical structure member101 and/or the fill material from weathering, corrosion, pests, andother environmental assaults. In an embodiment, a glue or resin fillsany space between the fill material and/or the vertical structure member101 and the cap 107. The glue or resin may be inserted into this spaceprior to installation of the cap 107, or the glue or resin may beinserted or injected into this space after installation of the cap 107(e.g., though an injection port).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one or more cap spacers 105 can be utilizedbetween sleeve(s) 102 and the cap 107, to allow for variation invertical structural member 101 dimension, according to an embodiment.The material of the cap spacers 105 can be of any suitable material,which may or may not match the sleeve 102 material, depending on theenvironment of intended use, such as fiberglass, ferrous materials ofany type, nylon, structural plastics, composites, or other inorganicmaterial. The cap spacers 105 can be attached to the sleeves 102 and thecaps 107 via a mechanical fastener (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, pegs,clamps, etc.) and/or a chemical bonding agent (e.g., glue or resin). Asshown in FIG. 3, cap spacers 105 can allow the system to be utilizedwith vertical structure members of different sizes. Here, the twelveinch vertical structure member 101A is accommodated by utilizing the capspacers 105 to fill space between the cap 107 and the sleeves 102. In anembodiment, resin or glue can be inserted in spaces between the capspacers 105, the cap 107, and the sleeve(s) 102.

According to an embodiment, one or more structure attachment devices 106can be utilized to couple the system to the structure. The structureattachment device 106 can be coupled to the cap 107 via a mechanicalfastener (e.g., screws, bolts, nails, pegs, clamps, etc.) and/or achemical bonding agent. Furthermore, the structure attachment device 106can be coupled to the structure via a mechanical fastener and/or achemical bonding agent. The structure attachment device 106 can be asingle molded piece or can be constructed of individual structuralpieces. For example, the structure attachment devices 106 shown in FIG.1 are square U-bolts with threaded ends.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, two structure attachment devices 106 (i.e., U-bolts)are shown, where each of the threaded ends of each structure attachmentdevices 106 extends through openings 108 in the cap 107. Each of thethreaded ends can then be positioned though openings 121 in one or morebrackets 120 (e.g., the ends of one U-bolt extending though holes in oneL-bracket and the ends of the other U-bolt extending through anotherL-bracket) and secured with suitable washers 122 and nuts 123. Thebrackets 120 can then be coupled to the structure 130 (e.g., a joist orbeam of the structure). For example, the brackets 120 can be coupled tothe structure 130 via a friction fit, a mechanical fastener, and/or achemical bonding agent.

In an embodiment, resin fills and/or glue can be utilized to bondelements of the system (e.g., sleeves, sleeve spacers, caps, cap spacer,and/or structure attachment devices) together and the system to avertical structure member, seal wooden members (e.g., a verticalstructure member) to protect from dry rot, and to fill voids between thevertical structural member and elements of the system (e.g., thesleeves, the sleeve spacers, the cap, and/or the cap spacer). In anembodiment, the resin fills and/or glue can have a minimum lap sheer ofabout 430 MPa.

According to embodiments, performance standards can vary from oneapplication to another. In an example for raising structures on circularwooden pilings, e.g., 12″ diameter Southern White Pipe wooden pilings,the system could have a bending moment of 65 ft-Kips, shear (e.g.,lateral forces) of 10 Kips, vertical loading (vertical compression) 90Kips, and alignment/plumb correction of 6 degrees. However, performancecan be limited by the available reaction force of the structure to whichthe system is connected.

FIGS. 7-13 illustrate another embodiment of the system 200 for extendingand/or repairing a vertical structural member 201, which can include oneor more sleeves 202 with flanges 203 coupled to the vertical structuralmember 201, one or more sleeve spacers 204 positioned between theflanges 203, a cap 206 coupled to the sleeve 102, and a structureattachment device 220 coupled to the cap 206. The sleeve 202 (shown inFIG. 9), flanges 203 (shown in FIG. 9), and sleeve spacers 204 (shown inFIG. 10) can be similar to the corresponding components described above.

In an embodiment, sleeve 202 can have openings 249 for passage of amechanical fastener (e.g., a screw, nail or bolt) through the sleeve 202and into the vertical structural member 201 to allow for the sleeve 202to be mechanically fastened to the vertical structural member 201.Sleeve 202 can also have openings 248 along a flange 203 for passage ofa mechanical fastener (e.g., a screw, nail or bolt) through the flange203 to allow for the flange 203 to be mechanically fastened to theflange 203 on the other side of a single sleeve 202, to the flange 203of another sleeve, or to sleeve spacer 204 positioned between flanges203.

In an embodiment, a cap spacer 250 (shown in FIG. 11) can have a donutshape. The height of the cap spacer 250 can be determined such that thecap spacer 250 will rest on top of the vertical structural member 201,and a cap 206 (show in in FIG. 12) will rest on top of the cap spacer250 and the tops of the sleeves 202. In an embodiment, the cap spacer250 can be secured, e.g., by driving lag screws through holes in thesleeves 202 into the cap spacer 250 or by the application of glues orresins. Optionally, a plate may be placed between the cap spacer 250 andthe vertical structure member 201 (and may also be fastened with glue orfasteners) to provide load bearing from the top of the sleeve 202. Incertain embodiments, the plate may also include a support to, e.g.,support a load.

In an embodiment, the structure attachment device 220 (shown in FIG. 13)is aligned such that a bottom portion 262 extends into a receptacle 252of the cap 206 and can be attached to the cap 206 via one or more boltsextending through opening 251 in the cap 206. However, prior toattachment of the structure attachment device 220 to the cap 206, thestructure attachment device 220 can be rotated such that a space 263 isaligned to receive a portion of the structure 230 (e.g., the floorjoist) between vertical clamp portions 261. Once the structure ispositioned between the vertical clamp portions 261, the structure 230can be attached to the structure attachment device 220, e.g., via screwsor bolts extending through openings 264 in the vertical clamp portions261 and into the structure.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method 1400 of extending a vertical structuralmember supporting a structure in accordance with an embodiment. In anembodiment, the method can be performed utilizing system 100 (shown inFIGS. 1 and 2) or system 200 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7).

In an embodiment, the vertical structural member is initially preparedto be extended and/or repaired. For example, the vertical structuralmember can be cleaned (e.g., of debris) and cut to a suitable height(e.g., a height corresponding to other vertical structural members beingused to support the structure). Further, damaged portions of thevertical structural member can be removed. The vertical structuralmember can also be planed along a length of the vertical structuralmember to correct alignment. For example, a portion of a side of aleaning vertical structural member can removed such that when thevertical structural member is repaired and/or extended with a thesystem, the system can be adjusted to be plumb or vertical (e.g., up toabout 6 degrees of correction).

At block 1402, a sleeve is coupled to a vertical structural member,where a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeveis about the vertical structural member. For example, the sleeve can becoupled to the vertical structural member via a mechanical fastener or achemical bonding agent. In an embodiment, a sleeve spacer may beutilized to accommodate a circumference of the vertical structuralmember, where the sleeve spacer is positioned along a length of thesleeve. In an embodiment, two or more sleeves are positioned about thevertical structural member such that each sleeve is about a portion ofthe vertical structural member to extend all the way around the verticalstructural member.

In an embodiment, a resin or glue is applied, inserted, or injected intospaces (e.g., voids) between the vertical structural member and thesleeve to protect the vertical structural member and provide additionalcoupling strength. In an embodiment, a fill material is inserted into aspace within the sleeve above the vertical structural member. Forexample, the fill material can be concrete, glue, resin, or any othersuitable fill material (e.g., a flowable fill material).

At block 1404, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve oppositethe first end. For example, the cap can be coupled to the sleeve via amechanical fastener or a chemical bonding agent. In an embodiment, a capspacer is coupled between the cap and the sleeve to accommodate a largervertical structural member and/or fill a gap between the cap and thesleeve.

In an embodiment, a glue or resin is inserted into spaces between thesleeve, the cap, the vertical structural member, the fill material,and/or the cap spacer, e.g., to provide additional coupling strengthand/or protect the system and the vertical structural member.

At block 1406, a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap,where the structure attachment device can be attached to the structure.For example, the structure attachment device can be coupled to the capvia a mechanical fastener or a chemical bonding agent. Further, thestructure attachment device can be coupled to the structure via amechanical fastener or a chemical bonding agent.

In an example, the vertical structural member can be a U-bolt (e.g., asquare U-bolt), where a horizontal portion of the U-bolt is positionedbetween the cap and the vertical structural member, and verticalportions (e.g., which can have a threaded section) of the U-bolt extendaway from the vertical structural member through openings in the cap.The vertical threaded end portions of the U-bolt can extend thoughopenings in an L-bracket to be fastened to the L-bracket (e.g., via anut). The L-bracket can be coupled to the structure (e.g., a joist ofthe structure), e.g., via a mechanical fastener, such as a bolt or ascrew, glue or resin, or a friction fit. In an embodiment, two U-bolts,each with a corresponding L-bracket, are utilized to attach the systemto the structure.

Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention willno doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art afterhaving read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that anyparticular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is inno way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references todetails of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope ofclaims, which in themselves recite only those features regarded as theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A system for raising a structure, comprising: a sleeve, the sleeve adapted to be affixed to an outer periphery of a first vertical structural member such that the sleeve encloses a top portion of the first vertical structural member and extends past the top portion in a direction along a length of the first vertical structural member, wherein the portion of the sleeve extending past the top portion of the first vertical structural member defines a fillable interior space above the top portion of the first vertical structural member; a second vertical structural member having a first end seated in the fillable interior space defined by the sleeve extending past the top portion of the first vertical structural member; a cap provided at a second end of the second vertical structural member, the second end opposing the first end, the cap comprising a vertical wall defining a receptacle; and a structure attachment device comprising vertical clamp portions extending in the direction along a length of the second vertical structural member and adapted to receive the structure, wherein the structure attachment device is seated on a top surface of the cap.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is affixed to the first vertical structural member via a mechanical fastener.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure attachment device seated on the top surface of the cap is secured via one or more mechanical fasteners extending through one or more openings in the top surface of the cap.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical clamp portions are parallel to each other and define a space therebetween for receiving the structure.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the structure received in the space defined between the parallel clamp portions is secured via one or more mechanical fasteners extending through one or more openings in the vertical clamp portions.
 6. A system for raising a structure, comprising: a first sleeve, the first sleeve adapted to be affixed to an outer periphery of a first vertical structural member such that the first sleeve encloses a top portion of the first vertical structural member and extends past the top portion of the first vertical structural member in a direction along a length of the first vertical structural member, wherein the portion of the first sleeve extending past the top portion of the first vertical structural member defines a first fillable interior space above the top portion of the first vertical structural member; a second vertical structural member having a first end seated in the first fillable interior space defined by the first sleeve extending past the top portion of the first vertical structural member; a second sleeve, the second sleeve adapted to be affixed to an outer periphery of the second vertical structural member at a second end, the second end opposing the first end, such that the sleeve encloses a top portion of the second vertical structural member; a cap coupled to the second sleeve, the cap comprising a vertical wall defining a receptacle; and a structure attachment device comprising vertical clamp portions extending in the direction along a length of the second vertical structural member and adapted to receive the structure, wherein the structure attachment device is seated on a top surface of the cap.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second sleeve extends past the top portion of the second vertical structural member in a direction along the length of the second vertical structural member, wherein the portion of the second sleeve extending past the top portion of the second vertical structural member defines a second fillable interior space above the top portion of the second vertical structural member.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the cap is adapted to enclose the fillable interior space above the top portion of the second vertical structural member.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are affixed, respectively, to the first vertical structural member and to the second vertical structural member via mechanical fasteners.
 10. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure attachment device seated on the top surface of the cap is secured via one or more mechanical fasteners extending through one or more openings in the top surface of the cap.
 11. The system of claim 6, wherein the vertical clamp portions are parallel to each other and define a space therebetween for receiving the structure.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the structure received in the space defined between the parallel clamp portions is secured via one or more mechanical fasteners extending through one or more openings in the vertical clamp portions. 